Get a first look at the NFL draft in Alabama + celebrate the original Mardi Gras—what to know + how to go

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It’s the start of a new year, and it’s tough to find a better place in Alabama to experience the energy than Mobile. A city of firsts, it’s the state’s first European settlement, the nation’s original home of Mardi Gras and where most agree the NFL draft truly begins each year.

“A city born to celebrate,” indeed, and there’s barely a pause between the highs of the holidays and rolling into a new season of parades, parties and more. The atmosphere is electric—and all within easy reach in less than four hours driving from Birmingham.

Read on for an essential guide to Mobile for Senior Bowl and Mardi Gras season, and discover why it’s such a special time to experience the best of the Port City.

See the best of what makes Mobile unique

In Mobile, there’s delight in duality. It’s where friendly competition meets collaboration, individuality meets community spirit and international flair meets Southern traditions.

And on Mardi Gras Day, the characters of Folly and Death meet and go head-to-head in the final parades of Carnival season.

It’s the best time of year for visitors to experience this special energy. As the city’s giant MoonPie dropped to mark the start of 2026, plans were already locked in for late January’s Panini Senior Bowl, a Mobile tradition since 1951.

Meanwhile, local shops began rolling out stock to ensure everyone has ample gear to celebrate Mardi Gras in Mobile, which began in 1703.

The worlds of sports and Carnival come together in Mobile with coordinated pageantry: This year, the Mardi Gras-style Senior Bowl Player Parade takes place one hour before the Conde Cavaliers Parade, the first official krewe parade each year.

“We already have people celebrating now, and when these parades hit, it’ll be like the final electric shock of the life force to wake up Mobile for the Carnival season. We have such a storied tradition, and it’s really neat to see the Senior Bowl embracing our traditions.”
_{Garrett Wagner, Visit Mobile National Sports Sales & Event Manager}

Ready, set, hut! Senior Bowl info

🏈 PANINI SENIOR BOWL

• What: Reps of all 32 National Football League teams converge with thousands of fans to see over 100 of the top draft prospects from around the country compete.
• Where: Hancock Whitney Stadium, 500 Stadium Dr, Mobile, AL 36688
• When: Sat., Jan. 31, 1:30PM

✅ MUST-DOS

😋 Senior Bowl Food + Beverage Tour: Through January, get food + drink specials at participating downtown restaurants by showing proof of your Senior Bowl ticket.
🎉 Senior Bowl Player Parade: On Friday, Jan. 30, this kickoff parade starts at 5:30PM on Royal Street + travels west to St. Francis Street past Bienville Square.
🎵 Senior Bowl Concert: After the parade, see Mobile-rooted country duo Muscadine Bloodline perform a free concert at 7:30PM at Mardi Gras Park.
☝️Senior Bowl Fan Fest: On game day, family fun, food + games start at 10:30AM on the stadium’s southwest lawn.
🙌 Path to the Draft Team Walk: Head over to Parking Lot 105 by 11AM + high-five your favorite college football players before the game.

For more details + to purchase tickets, check out Visit Mobile’s resource page.

Mobile Mardi Gras must-dos, legends + traditions

⚜️ MARDI GRAS IN MOBILE

• What: The oldest Carnival season + Mardi Gras celebration in the nation entertains over 1 million guests annually with more than 40 parades, parties + special events.
• Where: Throughout Mobile + beyond
• When: Fri., Jan. 30 through Tues., Feb. 17

✅ MUST-DOS

🎟️ Mobile Mardi Gras Experience Trail: Enjoy this FREE trail guide to attractions like the Mobile Carnival Museum + the History Museum of Mobile + earn points for fun souvenirs.
🎊 Conde Cavaliers Parade: Be downtown Friday, Jan. 30 at 6:30PM for this first official krewe parade of the Carnival season, with 40+ more to come. Full parade schedule + routes here.
🖤 Joe Cain Day: Always the Sunday before Fat Tuesday, people celebrate Joe Cain, who revived the city’s Mardi Gras legacy in 1866. His Merry Widows gather at his grave and home before a people’s parade in his honor. See Joe Cain event details.
🎭Fat Tuesday: Mardi Gras Day features half a dozen parades, including two with long-running duels between characters Folly + Death—the Knights of Revelry Parade at 12:30PM and the final Order of Myths Parade at 6PM.

“If, as a child, you saw, every Mardi Gras, the figure of Folly chasing Death around the broken column of Life, beating him on the back with a fool’s scepter from which dangled two gilded pig bladders, wouldn’t you see the world in different terms, too?”
_{Eugene Walter, from “The Untidy Pilgrim”}

Check out Visit Mobile’s resources for more details on parade routes, special events + multiple guides to Mardi Gras in Mobile.

Special people, new connections + more reasons to cheer

The energy you’ll experience over the coming weeks in Mobile is emblematic of how a love for celebrations and community spirit continues to elevate the city to a world-class stage.

Wagner offers as an example Cleon Jones, proud Mobilian and former MLB left-fielder for the New York Mets, whom he helped win the World Series in 1969.

“We could talk about his on-field accomplishments until the cows come home, but he’s spent an entire career making sure that Mobile had a spotlight. Even to this day, you can ride around and see Cleon Jones cutting grass for someone in one of the neighborhoods, or doing something similar. After winning a World Series, he came right back home and wanted to share it. He truly embodies that spirit of remembering where you came from and the people who make Mobile so great.”
_{Garrett Wagner, Visit Mobile National Sports Sales & Events Manager}

Folks are taking notice of the greatness. ICMYI, here are a few more recent developments and cool things to come in Mobile:

• Amtrak restored its “Mardi Gras” route service between Mobile + New Orleans this summer after a nearly 20-year break following Hurricane Katrina.
• A Hall of Fame Walk also opened in front of the downtown convention center, welcoming visitors with statues honoring six Mobilians who’ve made national sports halls of fame.
• Professional hockey returns to Mobile in 2027 with the completion of its new civic center.
• Mobile will host the Alabama High School Athletic Association Super 7 State Football Championship in December.

Ready to experience the buzz + special spirit of Mobile? Here’s where to book your stay.

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